Compare towns
Fairlee vs Newfane vs Rupert vs Dover
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Fairlee has the most affordable homes ($274k median).
Newfane has the most people working from home (30.8%).
Rupert has the highest household income ($88k).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+60%).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Fairlee | Newfane | Rupert | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,066 |
1,456 |
676Lowest |
1,466Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.1% VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-2.2% VT: +2.8% |
+60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 56.2±8.7 30% above VT |
54.4±3.9 26% above VT |
57.8±9.7Highest 34% above VT |
53.5±8.3Lowest 24% above VT |
| Rupert and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 12.2%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
11.1%±3.7 VT: 17.9% |
13.9%±3.7Highest VT: 17.9% |
10.2%±5.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Rupert and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 33.4%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
29.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 21.4% |
42.3%±8.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
29.5%±6.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Rupert and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.5% VT: 43.8% |
46.5% VT: 43.8% |
30.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±3.7Highest VT: 7% |
2.4%±2.1 VT: 7% |
2.1%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
2.5%±2.9 VT: 7% |
| Fairlee and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $74,760±$10k 8% below VT |
$66,719±$21k 18% below VT |
$88,229±$36kHighest 9% above VT |
$52,313±$7kLowest 36% below VT |
| Rupert and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $274,200±$39kLowest 13% below VT |
$284,200±$49k 10% below VT |
$362,500±$63kHighest 14% above VT |
$332,900±$55k 5% above VT |
| Rupert and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,083±$242 12% below VT |
$1,266±$238Highest about the VT average |
— | $670±$49Lowest 46% below VT |
| Newfane and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,617Highest 11% above VT |
$5,174 about the VT average |
$4,594 9% below VT |
$4,510Lowest 10% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 89.2%±71.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
51.9%±79.7 VT: 48.4% |
20%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
38.1%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Fairlee and Newfane are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 14.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
10.9% VT: 10.1% |
6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
87.2% VT: 73.2% |
93.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
81.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 3% above VT |
27 min 13% above VT |
27 minHighest 14% above VT |
22 minLowest 6% below VT |
| Work from home | 15%±7.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
30.8%±12.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±9.2 VT: 16.9% |
23.2%±11.1 VT: 16.9% |
| Newfane and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Rivendell Interstate School District | West River Valley Union Education District #72A | — | River Valleys Unified School District #73 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
VT average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.